16 – 18 year olds

If money troubles do start to affect your studies with Derby College Group, you could receive additional financial support with study-related costs such as equipment, trips, travel to and from college and meals whilst you are in college.

Bursaries

We offer two different bursaries to 16 – 18 year old students who are enrolled on one of our further education courses – either full-time or part-time and who meet the right criteria. You will not be eligible if you are joining an apprenticeship, higher education, or full-cost course.

16-18 Discretionary Bursary

Funding for the Discretionary Bursary is limited, and it is not an entitlement. You will need to be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August at the start of your course and you must also meet the residency criteria. The bursary is available to the following students:

• Dependants of someone in receipt of Income Support
• Dependants of someone in receipt of Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 per annum.
• Dependants of someone in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance
• Dependants of someone in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance
• Dependents of someone who is in receipt of Child Tax Credits (without working tax credit) with an annual gross income of no more that £16,190
• Dependants of someone claiming the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Living in a household that has an income of less than £31,000 net to receive financial support for travel expenses.
• Living in a household that has an income of less than £25,000 to receive financial support towards, travel, mandatory equipment, mandatory trips and meals
• Those who can demonstrate that they are facing financial hardship.

16-18 Vulnerable Bursary

This funding is available for the following students who are 16 – 18 at the beginning of their course:

• Young people in care
• Care-leavers
• Students living independently who are in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit
• Disabled students in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.

If you are eligible for vulnerable bursary, you will receive it for the duration of your course, subject to you continuing to meet the criteria. The Vulnerable Bursary must be used to help pay for course-related costs, such as travel to and from college, uniform, course materials, PPE, and meals whilst you are on site. You will be assessed for the amount of bursary you receive according to how far you need to travel to college, how much your course equipment costs and how many days you need to be on site.

Key information about the Bursaries

Each application is considered individually and assessed against the eligibility criteria. Should you wish to appeal if your application is not supported, you can do so in writing to the Deputy CEO, Derby College, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8JE.

There are robust measures in place to manage the risk of fraud. Documentation will be required as proof when you are applying for a bursary. The College reserves the right to withhold bursary payments if you withdraw early from your course, whatever the reason.

Students are required to meet specific levels of attendance (80%) and behaviour. Support may be withdrawn if you do not meet these criteria. Where a bursary award is to be paid into a bank account, this must be your bank account. This is in compliance with government guidance to ensure that there is no conflict with the benefit agencies.

How do I apply for a Bursary?

If you’re looking to start a full-time or part-time further education course with us from September and think that you may be eligible for one of the bursaries you can apply after 22nd August 2024, as soon as you are enrolled, via your InTouch account

If you need to ask any questions prior to applying for a Bursary online, you can contact the Student Support Fund team:

By phone on 0800 028 0289
Or by email on studentsupportfund@derby-college.ac.uk

Studying with Derby College Group is a great investment in your future – and the majority of our students aged under 19 do not need to pay fees. In summary:

• Full-time programmes are free to students who meet a three-year residency requirement and who are aged under 19 on the 31st August in the year in which their study programme begins.